Resistance control systems and methods for amusement attractions

ABSTRACT

A resistance control system of an amusement attraction includes a support assembly having a base, a pivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivot joint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled to the pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least one spring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistance control system includes an actuator plate positioned between the spring plate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least one actuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at least one actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator plate relative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about the pivot joint.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/687,354, entitled “RESISTANCE CONTROL SYSTEMSAND METHODS FOR AMUSEMENT ATTRACTIONS,” filed Nov. 18, 2019, whichclaims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/889,943, filed Aug. 21, 2019, entitled “RESISTANCE CONTROLSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AMUSEMENT ATTRACTIONS,” all of which are herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Various amusement attractions have been created to provide riders withunique motion and visual experiences. In some cases, an amusementattraction may include a ride vehicle and a ride track (or other path)along which the ride vehicle moves. In an increasing number of amusementattractions, the ride vehicle may not traverse a path. For example, thevehicle may be configured for roll, pitch, and/or yaw while remainingfixed to a location. Such vehicles may be referred to as stationaryvehicles. For both stationary vehicles and those that traverse a path,virtual reality (VR) devices are being employed to provide additionalexcitement. It is now recognized that it is desirable to provide riderswith the ability to control certain aspects of these rides and/orassociated VR experiences to increase excitement and immersion in theride experience. For example, it is now recognized that it is desirableto provide users with the ability to steer the ride vehicle or at leastbe given the perception, via the VR devices, that they are steering theride vehicle.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimedsubject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the disclosure, but rather these embodiments areintended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosedembodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety offorms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forthbelow.

Present embodiments are directed toward a resistance control system ofan amusement attraction including a support assembly having a base, apivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivotjoint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled tothe pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least onespring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistancecontrol system includes an actuator plate positioned between the springplate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least oneactuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at leastone actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator platerelative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about thepivot joint.

Present embodiments are directed toward a method of controlling a ridevehicle of an amusement attraction, including receiving, via a vehiclecontroller of the ride vehicle, input indicative of a weight of a riderof the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle includes a base, a support beamcoupled to the base, and a spring plate that supports the rider while onthe ride vehicle and that is pivotally coupled to the support beam. Theride vehicle also includes an actuator plate selectively positionedbetween the spring plate and the base via at least one actuator and atleast one spring engaged with the spring plate. The at least one springis configured to selectively compress against the actuator plate basedon movements of the rider. The method includes querying, via the vehiclecontroller, a resistance setting database to retrieve a target actuatorlength for the at least one actuator that corresponds to the weight ofthe rider. The method also includes controlling, via the vehiclecontroller, the at least one actuator to adjust based on the targetactuator length for at least a portion of a ride cycle of the amusementattraction. Additionally, the method includes controlling, via thevehicle controller, the at least one actuator to adjust based on adefault actuator length in response to determining that the ride cycleis completed.

Present embodiments are directed toward a resistance control system ofan amusement attraction that includes a spring plate including a seatconfigured to receive a rider and a plurality of spring columns engagedwith the spring plate. Each spring column of the plurality of springcolumns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight of the rider.The resistance control system also includes a plurality of lockingdevices configured to selectively secure the plurality of spring columnsat an adjusted height during a ride cycle of the amusement attraction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an amusementattraction having a resistance control system and a stationary ridevehicle to enhance an experience of a rider equipped with a virtualreality (VR) device, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process by which theresistance control system may adjust a weight resistance of thestationary ride vehicle of FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of an embodiment of thestationary ride vehicle of FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the stationaryride vehicle of FIG. 3 in a tilted orientation, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of astationary ride vehicle having compound springs, in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a compound springcolumn of the stationary ride vehicle of FIG. 5 , in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed below. In an effort to provide a concise description of theseembodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not bedescribed in the specification. It should be appreciated that in thedevelopment of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering ordesign project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be madeto achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that sucha development effort might be complex and time consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, andmanufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of thisdisclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean thatthere are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere may be additional elements other than the listed elements.Additionally, it should be understood that references to “oneembodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are notintended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additionalembodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

Present embodiments are directed to a resistance control system for anamusement attraction, such as an attraction in which a rider is equippedwith a virtual reality (VR) device of a VR system. Generally, the riderprovides input to the VR system of the stationary attraction by leaningor shifting his or her weight relative to a ride vehicle positionedunderneath the rider. The ride vehicle includes supports that aretensioned or engaged to appropriately resist the movement to simulate avirtual experience, such as riding a horse or steering a paraglider,which is delivered through the VR device. As discussed herein, theresistance control system enables selective adjustment of a resistanceof the ride vehicle to movement, thus providing a similar experience topeople of varying weights and enabling a wide range of rider weights tobe accommodated on the stationary attraction.

The ride vehicle of the resistance control system generally includesrider accommodations, such as a chair or seat, coupled to a springplate. In certain embodiments, the spring plate is supported by astructural joint (e.g., universal joint) that enables riders to pitchand roll the spring plate with their bodyweight. Notably, springs areengaged with, or coupled to a surface of, the spring plate toselectively contact an actuator plate disposed underneath the springplate. The actuator plate is vertically positioned relative to thespring plate via actuators, thus enabling the springs of the springplate to compress and provide stability during pitch and roll motions ofthe spring plate. The actuators may move the actuator plate up or downto respectively increase or decrease resistance of the resistancecontrol system to movements of the rider. Thus, during a normal ridecycle, the resistance control system may measure a weight of the riderand instruct the actuators to change the tension of the springs to apredetermined setting or effective spring constant that corresponds tothe weight. In other embodiments, compound or conical springs coupled tothe spring plate may be passively compressed by the rider to a targetheight and secured with ratcheting devices, thereby providing a targetresistance to movements of the rider. In any case, as a semi-passivesystem, the resistance control system provides an improved experiencefor guests of all weights relative to entirely passive systems, andfurther, may be less expensive and technically complicated thancompletely active systems.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , an amusement attraction 10 includes aresistance control system 12 having a vehicle controller 14 (e.g.,controller) and a ride vehicle 16 (e.g., a motion simulator). Thepresent embodiment of the amusement attraction 10 illustrates the ridevehicle 16 having a seat 20 from which a rider 22 may steer the ridevehicle 16 and receive a virtual experience, which is supported by a VRdevice 24 (e.g., VR headset, wearable visualization device) having a VRcontroller 26. In other embodiments, the VR device 24 is not includedand additional excitement is added by the resistance control system 12without VR effects. It should be understood that the ride vehicle 16 maytake any suitable form, such as one including a sled, a motorcycle, ananimal, a surfboard, a skateboard, and so forth. Although the resistancecontrol system 12 is discussed herein with reference to a single rider22, it should be understood that similar techniques may be applied toadapt the resistance control system 12 for multi-passenger ridevehicles.

In the present embodiment, the seat 20 is coupled to a top surface 30 ofa spring plate 32 of the ride vehicle 16, and springs 34 are engagedwith or coupled to a bottom surface 36 of the spring plate 32. It shouldbe noted that the spring plate 32 may be a frame or framework and not asolid plate, in other embodiments. The ride vehicle 16 includes a base40 that is coupled to a support beam 42 via struts 44, in the presentembodiment. The support beam 42 is also coupled to the bottom surface 36of the spring plate 32 via a pivot joint 46. The pivot joint 46 of thepresent embodiment enables the spring plate 32 to rotate via roll 50 andpitch 52 relative to the base 40. The base 40 is generally stationaryrelative to a ground surface 54 in the illustrated embodiment. However,in other embodiments, the base 40 may be part of a larger vehicle thattraverses a path (e.g., a track). In some embodiments, the pivot joint46 may be a spherical bearing joint or universal joint that also enablesrotational movements 56 of the spring plate 32 about an axis that isparallel a vertical axis 72 (e.g., yaw movement). In other embodiments,the pivot joint 46 may enable movement along a single axis (e.g.,corresponding to a single degree of freedom), which may be suitable forsimplified amusement attractions 10. For example, to provide rotationaround the single axis, the pivot joint 46 may be a gimbal or a hingedgimbal expansion joint. In any case, the base 40, the support beam 42,and the pivot joint 46 generally form a support assembly 60 thatsupports the spring plate 32 while allowing any suitable degrees offreedom of pivotal movement of the spring plate 32.

The VR device 24 worn by the rider 22 implements VR techniques to renderan interactive virtual experience within eyesight of the rider 22. Forexample, the VR controller 26 may instruct a display of the VR device 24to generate a target set of virtual images corresponding to theinteractive virtual experience via a processor 62 and a memory 64. Insome embodiments, the VR techniques include augmented reality techniquesas well. As illustrated, the VR controller 26 of the VR device 24 iscommunicatively coupled to the vehicle controller 14 via a wirelesscommunication component 66. In other embodiments, the VR controller 26may be communicatively coupled to the vehicle controller 14 via anysuitable components that form a communication connection, such as awired connection, a BLUETOOTH® connection, a Wi-Fi connection, and soforth. It should be understood that the virtual experience providedthrough the VR device 24 may be selected to correspond with a physicalappearance of the ride vehicle 16 and/or a theme of the amusementattraction 10, in some embodiments. For example, in embodiments in whichthe amusement attraction 10 is themed as a jungle, the seat 20 of theride vehicle 16 may be designed as an animal, and the virtual experiencemay be displayed to the rider 22 as a race through the jungle. Suchcohesive designing of components of the amusement attraction 10 mayprovide a consistent and immersive experience to the rider 22. In otherembodiments, the VR device 24 may be replaced with an augmented realitydevice. Moreover, it should be understood that the resistance controlsystem 12 may be implemented in any suitable environment in which asemi-passive resistance control framework enhances user experience(e.g., an interactive movie theater or a motion-based ride).

Looking to resistance-adjusting features of the resistance controlsystem 12 in more detail, the ride vehicle 16 includes an actuator plate70 positioned between the spring plate 32 and the base 40, relative tothe vertical axis 72. As with the spring plate 32, the actuator plate 70may be a framework and does not necessarily include a solid plate. Inthe present embodiment, actuators 74 are coupled between the actuatorplate 70 and the base 40 to adjust a position of the actuator plate 70based on instruction from the vehicle controller 14. In other words, theactuators 74 are instructed to contract or extend to any suitableactuator length, between a fully contracted length and a fully extendedlength, to position the actuator plate 70 at a particular separationdistance 76 from the spring plate 32. The actuators 74 may be anysuitable components that facilitate movement of the actuator plate 70,including electric actuators, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators,magnetic actuators, mechanical actuators, and/or servo motors, and soforth. It should be understood that in the present embodiment, theactuator plate 70 is not directly coupled to the spring plate 32.

As mentioned, the springs 34 are coupled to the bottom surface 36 of thespring plate 32, and further, may selectively compress against contactthe actuator plate 70 in response to movements of the rider 22. Forexample, when the rider 22 leans to shift his or her weight relative tothe support beam 42, the pivot joint 46 enables the spring plate 32 totilt accordingly, thus disposing a corresponding portion of the springs34 in contact (e.g., engaged) with a top surface 80 of the actuatorplate 70. In response to continued weight shifting or engagement, theportion of the springs 34 that is in contact with the top surface 80compresses and provide resistance to slow and eventually stop themovement of the spring plate 32. As recognized herein, by adjusting theseparation distance 76 between the spring plate 32 and the actuatorplate 70, the resistance control system 12 may effectively tune the ridevehicle 16 to provide a feeling of neutral buoyancy to the rider 22 thatis suited for any one of multiple VR experiences delivered by the VRdevice 24.

Moreover, although two springs 34 and two actuators 74 are illustratedfor simplicity, it should be understood that these are representative ofany number of such features. In accordance with present embodiments, anysuitable number of springs 34 and actuators 74 may be included in theride vehicle 16, including one spring 34 and/or one actuator 74. Forexample, in embodiments having a single actuator 74, the single actuatormay include any suitable four-bar linkage, scissor linkage, guide railscombined with wheels, or any other suitable linkage mechanism thatenables the single actuator 74 to adjust the position of the actuatorplate 70 in one or multiple dimensions, in accordance with the presenttechniques. Additionally, in embodiments having a single spring 34, thesingle spring 34 may be disposed at a central position corresponding toan expected center of mass of the rider 22. It should also be understoodthat the springs 34, which are illustrated as mechanical, helical, orcoil springs in the present embodiment, may include or represent anysuitable resistance devices in certain embodiments, such as gas springs,air springs, elastomers, leaf springs, stiff air bladders, conicalspring washers (e.g., Belleville washers), gas struts, or magneticrepulsion assemblies, or any combination thereof. That is, any suitabledevice that applies a variable force as a function of a dimension of thesuitable device is presently contemplated as a suitable component of theresistance control system 12.

Additionally, although illustrated with the springs 34 of the springplate 32 separated from the actuator plate 70, in other embodiments, thesprings 34 may be coupled between the spring plate 32 and the base 40 toprovide a normalizing bias to the spring plate 32. Moreover, althoughdiscussed herein with reference to the springs 34 coupled to the springplate 32, it should be understood that the springs 34 may be coupled atany suitable position in the ride vehicle 16 that enables selectiveengagement of the springs 34, including positions in which the springs34 engage with any suitable surface of the actuator plate 70, viacantilever action or any other suitable force-distributing components.That is, the suitable position may be any suitable position from whichthe springs 34 are engaged in response to tilting of the spring plate 32beyond a threshold angle. In some of these embodiments, one or both endsof the springs 34 may be coupled to the support beam 42 and selectivelycompressed between the spring plate 32 and the actuator plate 70. Inother embodiments, the springs 34 may alternatively be coupled to thetop surface 80 of the actuator plate 70.

As illustrated, the resistance control system 12 also includes sensors90 to collect suitable information related to the ride vehicle 16 and/orthe rider 22 thereon. For example, the sensors 90 presently include aninclinometer 92 coupled to the spring plate 32 to sense an angle and adirection of incline, or position, of the spring plate 32. In someembodiments, the inclinometer 92 senses an incline of the spring plate32 to a thousandth of a degree. In other embodiments, an accelerometer,a position sensor, and so forth may be additionally or alternativelycoupled to the ride vehicle 16. Moreover, the sensors 90 of theresistance control system 12 include a weight sensor 94 that senses dataindicative of a weight of the rider 22 and transmits the data to thevehicle controller 14. The weight sensor 94 is illustrated as coupleddirectly to the support beam 42 in the present embodiment, thus enablingthe weight sensor 94 to sense an entire weight or force from the rider22 that is directed through the support beam 42. In other embodiments,the weight sensor 94 may be positioned anywhere between the rider 22 andthe base 40 of the ride vehicle 16, such as between the seat 20 and thespring plate 32. In other embodiments, the weight sensor 94 may beomitted, and the ride vehicle 16 may include a user input device thatenables the rider 22 to provide input indicative of a weight, a userprofile, and/or a desired resistance setting.

Proceeding to discussion of the vehicle controller 14, the vehiclecontroller 14 is generally responsible for controlling the ride vehicle16 to provide a target distance between the spring plate 32 and theactuator plate 70, as well as for aligning rider experiences (e.g.,physical movements of the vehicle 16) with the VR experience deliveredthrough the VR device 24. It should be noted that the VR device 24 maybe representative of different and/or additional effects (e.g., flatscreen displays and audio systems). The vehicle controller 14 maycommunicate with other components of the amusement attraction 10 and/orthe resistance control system 12 via any suitable, respectivecommunication circuitry (e.g., forming a wired or wireless network). Inthe present embodiment, the vehicle controller 14 is communicativelycoupled to the VR controller 26 of the VR device 24, the actuators 74,the inclinometer 92, and the weight sensor 94. The vehicle controller 14may be included in a housing or chassis of the ride vehicle 16, in someembodiments. In other embodiments, the vehicle controller 14 may beremote to the ride vehicle 16 and coordinate operation of multiple ridevehicles 16.

The vehicle controller 14 of the illustrated embodiment includes aprocessor 100 to provide instructions through respective communicationcircuitry 66 to the ride vehicle 16, as well as a memory 102 (e.g., oneor more memories) that stores the instructions for the processor 100, aswell as a resistance setting database 104. However, it is to beunderstood that any components can be suitably stored in and updatedfrom any suitable location, such as within a cloud database. Theprocessor 100 is any suitable processor that can execute instructionsfor carrying out the presently disclosed techniques, such as ageneral-purpose processor, system-on-chip (SoC) device, anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or some other similarprocessor configuration. In some embodiments, these instructions areencoded in programs or code stored in a tangible, non-transitory,computer-readable medium, such as the memory 102 and/or other storagecircuitry or device.

As will be understood, the resistance setting database 104 is a store ofdata having resistance settings that correlate a sensed weight of therider 22 to a target actuator length (e.g., target length, length withina threshold range) for the actuators 74. The resistance setting database104 therefore enables the vehicle controller 14 to appropriately movethe actuator plate 70 to tension the springs 34 of the ride vehicle 16for riders of a wide range of weights. Generally, the resistance controlsystem 12 instructs the actuators 74 to provide less resistance forlighter riders 22 and more resistance for heavier riders 22. In someembodiments, the resistance setting database 104 correlates the targetactuator lengths to a signal indicative of the weight of the rider 22,such as a raw output of the weight sensor 94 in volts. Such acorrelation may improve privacy and/or reduce computational latency forthe resistance control system 12 compared to embodiments that convertthe raw output into a value with units of weight. The resistance settingdatabase 104 may include a target actuator length for any suitable rangeof raw outputs and/or weights above a customizable lower weight limit,such as every 1 pound, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, and 50 pounds, for example.

In some embodiments, the resistance setting database 104 includesindividualized target actuator lengths that correspond to a respectivevirtual experience, a respective rider age, a respective rider profile,and so forth. For example, in embodiments in which the virtualexperience provided through the VR device 24 is a detail-oriented orchallenging experience, the resistance control system 12 may implementrelatively high resistance settings (e.g., 10% more tension) to providemore motion sensitivity to the ride vehicle 16. Additionally, inembodiments in which the resistance control system 12 determines that arider profile of the rider 22 indicates a preference for a relaxedexperience (e.g., relaxed VR gameplay), the resistance control system 12may implement relatively low resistance settings and instruct the VRdevice 24 to provide a simplified virtual experience that suits therelatively low resistance settings. The resistance control system 12 ofcertain embodiments may also adjust the resistance of the ride vehicle16 over a duration of a ride cycle of the amusement attraction 10, suchas by increasing the resistance in response to determining that the ridecycle is nearing completion, that the rider 22 is entering a particularregion of a simulated environment supported by the VR device 24, thatthe rider 22 has performed a certain task within the simulatedenvironment, that the rider 22 has provided user input indicative of arequested resistance adjustment, and so forth.

With the above features of the resistance control system 12 in mind,further discussion is provided herein regarding operation of theresistance control system 12 to regulate the weight resistance of, andenhance rider satisfaction on, the ride vehicle 16. For example, FIG. 2is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a process 120 thatenables the resistance control system 12 to control the ride vehicle 16through a ride cycle of the amusement attraction 10. The stepsillustrated in the process 120 are meant to facilitate discussion andare not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, becauseadditional steps may be performed, certain steps may be omitted, and theillustrated steps may be performed in an alternative order or inparallel, where appropriate. The process 120 may be representative ofinitiated code or instructions stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium (e.g., the memory 102) and executed, forexample, by the processor 100 of the vehicle controller 14 of theresistance control system 12. The processor 100 may be communicativelycoupled via a network, such as a wireless network, to receive and sendthe instructions and signals described below.

In the presently illustrated embodiment, the vehicle controller 14performing the process 120 starts (block 122) a ride cycle by receiving(block 124) input indicative of a weight of the rider 22. For example,the vehicle controller 14 may receive signals from the weight sensor 94after the rider 22 has boarded the ride vehicle 16. In some embodiments,the weight sensor 94 may transmit signals continuously, such that thevehicle controller 14 identifies one of the signals as being indicativeof the weight of the rider 22 in response to the signals being constant(e.g., within 1%, within 5%) for a threshold time period. Suchembodiments may facilitate security within the amusement attraction 10by providing a baseline weight value of the rider 22 to the vehiclecontroller 14. The vehicle controller 14 may therefore present an alertto an operator of the amusement attraction 10 and/or shut down the ridevehicle 16 in response to a detected weight value that is outside apredetermined threshold from the baseline weight value (e.g., indicativeof a dropped item, a premature departure). In other embodiments, thevehicle controller 14 may receive user input from a user interface inresponse to the rider 22 entering his or her weight or a requestedresistance setting into the user interface, then store the user input asthe input indicative of the weight of the rider 22. In some embodiments,the vehicle controller 14 converts the input indicative of the riderweight into a weight value. As such, although discussed herein as arider weight for simplicity, it should be understood that the vehiclecontroller 14 may instead perform the following steps of the process 120with respect to other information including the raw output of the weightsensor 94 in volts, in certain embodiments.

Continuing the process 120, the vehicle controller 14 queries (block126) the resistance setting database 104 to retrieve a target actuatorlength that corresponds to the rider weight. As mentioned, theresistance setting database 104 includes entries that associaterespective lengths of the actuators 74 with various rider weights. Thevehicle controller 14 thus utilizes the rider weight to identify asuitable actuator length for the actuators 74 that provides anappropriate resistance to movement for the rider 22 having thatparticular rider weight. In general, the target actuator length is moreextended (e.g., corresponding to a smaller separation distance 76) forheaver rider weights than lighter rider weights to increase the movementresistance of the ride vehicle 16 for the heavier rider weights. Withthe appropriate target actuator length identified, the vehiclecontroller 14 controls, operates, or instructs (block 130) the actuators74 to extend or contract to reach the target actuator length, thusdisposing the actuator plate 70 at a specified separation distance 76from the spring plate 32. In other embodiments, the resistance settingdatabase 104 may include entries that associate respective positions ofthe actuator plate 70 with various rider weights, and the resistancecontrol system 12 may control the weight resistance of the ride vehicle16 by moving the actuator plate 70 to a target actuator plate position,which corresponds to a target separation distance 76 from the springplate 32.

With the tension of the ride vehicle 16 calibrated to the rider weight,the vehicle controller 14 provides (block 132) a ride experience to therider 22 through the ride vehicle 16 that corresponds to the virtualexperience provided through the VR device 24. For example, the VRcontroller 26 of the VR device 24 may instruct the processor 62 togenerate particular virtual images to display to the rider 22. The rider22 generally moves his or her bodyweight relative to the ride vehicle 16to provide user input to the vehicle controller 14 (e.g., via theinclinometer 92), which communicates the user input to the VR controller26. The VR controller 26 therefore adjusts the virtual images displayedto the rider 22 to display a target set of virtual images thatcorresponds to the received user input. For example, in response to therider 22 leaning to the left, the spring plate 32 may move in pitch 52by a particular amount (e.g., inches) based on the resistance of theride vehicle 16. The inclinometer 92 senses the movement of the springplate 32 and transmits a signal indicative of the movement to thevehicle controller 14. The vehicle controller 14 may therefore instructthe VR controller 26 to adjust the virtual images provided through theVR device 24 to display a corresponding virtual movement in pitch 52. Itshould be understood that, in other embodiments, the VR controller 26 isembedded or stored within the vehicle controller 14. It should beunderstood that in other embodiments, the amusement attraction 10 mayinclude features other than or in addition to the VR device 24, such asa projection screen, which receives the user input as feedback thatenhances rider enjoyment. In further embodiments, such as those in whichthe ride vehicle 16 moves along a track, the VR device 24 and the VRcontroller 26 are omitted.

In addition to commanding the VR device 24 to respond to the movementsof the ride vehicle 16, the resistance control system 12 enables theride vehicle 16 to respond to instructions from the VR controller 26.For example, the vehicle controller 14 performing the process 120determines (block 134) whether a haptic feedback request is receivedfrom the VR controller 26. Continuing the above example, in response tothe rider 22 steering the ride vehicle 16 such that a virtualrepresentation of the ride vehicle 16 contacts a boundary (e.g., afence, a cloud, an obstacle), the VR controller 26 may request that thevehicle controller 14 vibrate or otherwise manipulate the ride vehicle16 to indicate the contact. It should be understood that the vehiclecontroller 14 may receive any single or multiple haptic feedbackrequests from the VR controller 26, including continuous requests and/orpreprogrammed requests.

In response to receiving the haptic feedback request, the vehiclecontroller 14 instructs (block 136) the actuators 74 to manipulate theactuator plate 70 to correspond to the VR experience of the VR device24. In certain embodiments, the actuators 74 may extend to position theactuator plate 70 in contact with the springs 34 of the spring plate 32and/or move the spring plate 32, thereby providing haptic feedback tothe rider 22. The vehicle controller 14 may instruct the actuators 74 toadjust in length either individually or in sync with one another. Forexample, the actuators 74 may be instructed to further tension oneregion (e.g., quadrant, side) of the ride vehicle 16 to discourage therider 22 from steering the ride vehicle 16 in a direction thatcorresponds to the one region. In other embodiments, the actuators 74may be instructed to move the entirety of the actuator plate 70sequentially up and down, or in a random manner, to provide anexperience of floating to the rider 22. After fulfilling the hapticfeedback request, the vehicle controller 14 may return to instruct(block 130) the actuators 74 to move to the target actuator length.

Alternatively, in response to determining that a haptic feedback requestis not unfulfilled or outstanding, the vehicle controller 14 maydetermine (block 140) whether the present ride cycle of the amusementattraction 10 is completed. The vehicle controller 14 may consult aclock, the VR controller 26, or any other suitable component to performthe determination of block 140. In response to determining that the ridecycle is not completed, the vehicle controller 14 performing theillustrated embodiment of the process 120 returns to block 134 tocontinue determining whether haptic feedback requests are received.Alternatively, in response to determining that the ride cycle iscompleted, the vehicle controller 14 instructs (block 142) the actuators74 to return to a default length, thereby ending (block 144) the process120. The default length may correspond to a relaxed state of theactuators 74, a most common length that suits a majority of riders 22, alength that facilitates dismounting from the ride vehicle (e.g., tiltingthe spring plate 32 toward an exit of the amusement attraction 10), andso forth. The resistance control system 12 having the vehicle controller14 therefore efficiently improves rider experience within the amusementattraction 10 by semi-passively tuning the weight resistance of the ridevehicle 16 to each particular rider weight. Moreover, the resistancecontrol system 12 disclosed herein provides dynamic haptic feedback tothe rider 22 that corresponds to the virtual images provided through theVR device 24, further generating dynamic and enjoyable riderexperiences.

With the above understanding of operation of the resistance controlsystem 12 in mind, further discussion is provided herein regardingexample embodiments of the ride vehicle 16 controlled by the resistancecontrol system 12. For example, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevationalview of an embodiment of the ride vehicle 16 having the spring plate 32in a horizontal orientation (e.g., aligned with a horizontal axis 160).As discussed above, the ride vehicle 16 includes the actuator plate 70,the spring plate 32, and the support assembly 60 having the base plate,the support beam 42, and the pivot joint 46. Because the ride vehicle 16is stationary, the base 40 is disposed in contact with the groundsurface 54. In other embodiments, the resistance control system 12 maybe utilized on a mobile motion base and the ground surface 54 may berepresentative of a larger vehicle to which the ride vehicle 16 iscoupled.

The ride vehicle 16 also includes six springs 34, which are illustratedas conical mechanical springs in the present embodiment. The conicalmechanical springs generally have length-variable or non-linear springconstants, such that initial compression of the springs against theactuator plate 70 progresses with less force than further compression ofthe springs 34. In the present embodiment, the springs 34 are evenlyspaced from each other in a hexagonal or circular formation, which iscentered over the pivot joint 46. However, it should be understood thatany other suitable type, formation, and quantity of springs 34 may beemployed within the ride vehicle 16 to selectively compress againstand/or contact the actuator plate 70. For example, the conical springsmay be replaced with cylindrical, helical springs having progressivespring constants coupled to one another in series (e.g., compoundsprings), in some embodiments. The ride vehicle 16 may alternativelyinclude a single spring 34 that is suitably positioned within the ridevehicle 16 to enable the presently disclosed features to dynamicallyadjust the weight resistance of the ride vehicle 16.

The resistance control system 12 also includes moderating features thatfurther improve rider experience on the ride vehicle 16. For example,the ride vehicle 16 of the present embodiment includes speed limiters170 (e.g., gas springs) that control movement of the spring plate 32.The speed limiters 170 are each coupled between the spring plate 32 anda peripheral support beam 172 that is positioned beneath an outer edge174 of the spring plate 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the speedlimiters 170 include spherical rolling bearings 176 that give three-axisrotational freedom, though any other suitable connection components withthe same or more restricted rotational movement may be employed. Thespeed limiters 170 include a piston 180 and a rod 182 that movesrelative to the piston 180 to provide damping to the motion of the ridevehicle 16. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, this dampenedmotion correlates to movement of a seat within or part of a ridevehicle, a ride vehicle that is effectively a seat, or both a ridevehicle and a seat of the ride vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the stationaryride vehicle 16 having the spring plate 32 in a tilted orientation. Asillustrated, the spring plate 32 is disposed at an inclination angle 200relative to the actuator plate 70, due to weight shifting of the rider22 that may be boarded onto the spring plate 32. The ride vehicle 16also includes bumpers 202 (e.g., rubber bumpers, stoppers) positioned onthe peripheral support beams 172 disposed underneath the spring plate32. The bumpers 202 generally enable the spring plate to freely rotateup to a threshold inclination angle at which the bottom surface 36 ofthe spring plate 32 contacts the bumpers 202. The bumpers 202 mayinclude a contact sensor that provides signals to the vehicle controller14 to indicate whether the spring plate 32 is contacting the respectivebumper 202. In some embodiments, six bumpers 202 and six peripheralsupport beams 172 may be included in the ride vehicle 16. In such cases,every other peripheral support beam 172 may also be indirectly coupledto the spring plate 32 via one of the speed limiters 170 discussedabove.

The actuators 74 illustrated in the present embodiment are coupledbetween the actuator plate 70 and the base 40. Thus, the actuators 74may move the actuator plate along the vertical axis 72 to adjust theeffective spring constant of the springs 34, such as by increasing ordecreasing the separation distance 76 between the actuator plate 70 andthe spring plate 32 (e.g., in a horizontal position corresponding to thepivot joint 46 or a fulcrum of the spring plate 32). The ride vehicle 16may include three actuators 74 that are spaced equidistant from oneanother in a triangular formation, though it should be understood thatadditional actuators 74 may be included and evenly spaced relative toone another in any suitable polygonal shape. Moreover, the speedlimiters 170 discussed above may be positioned in a triangle formationthat is a mirror image of the triangle formation of the actuators 74,thereby evenly distributing force of the speed limiters 170 and theactuators 74 around a perimeter of the ride vehicle 16. In otherembodiments, such as those in which the ride vehicle 16 is mobile, theforce of the speed limits 170 and the actuators 74 may be evenlydistributed around a seat of the ride vehicle 16.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating another embodiment of theresistance control system 12 that controls the ride vehicle 16 withinthe amusement attraction 10. The ride vehicle 16 includes the springplate 32 and the seat 20 or other rider accommodation coupled to the topsurface 30 of the spring plate 32. From the seat 20, the rider 22 maysteer the ride vehicle 16 with his or her bodyweight. Notably, the ridevehicle 16 includes spring columns 250 coupled to the bottom surface 36of the spring plate 32 to selectively adjust a resistance of the ridevehicle 16 based on a weight of the rider 22. Each spring column 250includes a height-adjustable spring assembly 252 that is passively(e.g., naturally) compressed to a target height 260 by the weight of therider 22.

In the present embodiment, each height-adjustable spring assembly 252includes three spring regions 262, namely: a high-compression region264, a medium-compression region 266, and a low-compression region 268.As used herein, each spring region 262 is defined as any suitablecomponent that provides a respective spring constant. As such, thelow-compression region 268 has a larger spring constant than themedium-compression region 266 or the high-compression region 264,indicating that more force is utilized to compress the low-compressionregion 268 (e.g., as approximated by Hooke's law). In the presentembodiment, the compressibility of each spring region 262 is provided byselecting a target wire thickness for the spring region 262, though anyother suitable properties of the spring regions 262 may be varied (e.g.,material, coating, treatment, size).

For example, the high-compression region 264 may be designed to beactive for riders having a first weight range (e.g., 0 to 50 pounds),beyond which the high-compression region 264 is fully compressed andsubstantially stiff. The other spring regions 266, 268 may be negligiblycompressed and act substantially stiff for riders having a weight withinthe first weight range. The medium-compression region 266 may bedesigned to be active for a second weight range (e.g., 51 to 150 pounds)that is higher than the first weight range. As such, themedium-compression region 266 is actively compressible for riders havinga weight within the second weight range, while the high-compressionregion 264 is fully compressed and the low-compression region 268 issubstantially stiff. Similarly, the low-compression region 268 may bedesigned to be active when supporting riders having a weight within athird weight range (e.g., 151 to 300 pounds), such that the other springregions 264, 266 are fully compressed. Accordingly, after the rider 22boards the ride vehicle 16, the height-adjustable spring assemblies 252of the ride vehicle 16 passively compress to tune the weight resistanceof the ride vehicle 16 to the weight of the rider 22.

The spring regions 262 presently include cylindrical, helical coilsprings that are coupled in series with one another between the springplate 32 and a respective base plate 272. In other embodiments, eachspring column 250 may include a single conical spring that providescontinuously variable spring regions along the height of the springcolumns 250, or other suitable resistance-variable components discussedabove (e.g., gas springs, magnetic repulsion assemblies). Althoughillustrated with four spring columns 250 each having three springregions 262, it should be understood that any suitable number of springcolumns 250 with any suitable number of spring regions 262 may beimplemented within the ride vehicle 16, including a single spring column250 positioned underneath a center point 274 of the spring plate 32. Inaccordance with the present disclosure, reference to a spring elementmay include any feature capable of providing resistive spring force,such as a metal spring, plastic spring, leaf spring, conical orcylindrical coil, gas spring, magnetic repulsion assembly, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, each spring column 250 includes a linkagemechanism 280 (e.g., cable, rope, chain) coupled between the respectivebase plate 272 and the spring plate 32 to restrict lateral motion of thespring columns 250. The linkage mechanism 280 is illustrated as disposedwithin the height-adjustable spring assembly 252, though it should beunderstood that the linkage mechanism may be positioned elsewhere withinthe spring column 250. In certain embodiments, the linkage mechanism 280facilitates securement of the spring columns 250 to the target height260, as discussed in more detail below. In other embodiments, the ridevehicle 16 may operate without securing the spring columns 250, therebyenabling less complex construction and operation of the amusementattraction 10.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the resistance controlsystem 12, which includes the vehicle controller 14 and the VRcontroller 26 discussed above. The present discussion focuses onoperation of a single spring column 250 of the ride vehicle 16, thoughit should be understood that each spring column 250 may operatesimilarly. The illustrated embodiment of the spring column 250 includeslocking devices 300 that selectively secure the spring columns 250 atthe target height 260 based on a weight of the rider 22. For example,the locking devices 300 may be ratcheting devices that receive a ribbedextension 302 coupled to a distal end 304 of a main body 306 of thelinkage mechanism 280. In such embodiments, the base plate 272 mayinclude an opening that enables the main body 306 of the linkagemechanism 280 to be coupled to, and disposed on an opposite side of thebase plate 272 from, the ribbed extension 302. In such embodiments, theweight of the rider 22 may passively compress the height-adjustablespring assembly 252 to a target height 260, moving the spring plate 32closer to the base plate 272 and depressing the ribbed extension 302 toa target position relative to the locking devices 300. It should beunderstood that any other suitable locking devices may be implementedwithin the ride vehicle 16, such as a reel and spool that secure thelinkage mechanism 280, caliper brakes, locking gas springs, magneticretention systems, locking racks and/or pinions, and so forth.

In embodiments having the locking devices 300, the vehicle controller 14is communicatively coupled to the locking devices 300 to controloperation of the locking devices 300. For example, the ratchetingembodiments of the locking devices 300 may passively retain the springcolumns 250 to have the target height 260 in response to force appliedby the weight of the rider. In other embodiments having active lockingdevices, the vehicle controller 14 may instruct the locking devices 300to secure the spring columns 250 in response to determining that a ridecycle of the amusement attraction 10 is initiated. In either case, thevehicle controller 14 may instruct the locking devices 300 to releasethe ribbed extension 302 or other suitable components of the springcolumn 250 to enable the spring column 250 to return to a default height(e.g., uncompressed height) in response to determining that the ridecycle is completed.

The illustrated embodiment of the resistance control system 12 alsoincludes the inclinometer 92 coupled to the spring plate to providefeedback to the VR controller 26, thereby enabling the VR controller 26to align the virtual experience of the VR device 24 to a currentposition of the ride vehicle 16. As discussed above, any other suitablesensors 90 may be additionally or alternatively coupled to the ridevehicle 16 to facilitate operation of the amusement attraction 10.Notably, the resistance control systems 12 of FIGS. 5 and 6 do notinclude the weight sensor 94, providing a less complex embodiment of theride vehicle 16, while enabling semi-passive control of the weightresistance of the ride vehicle 16 for improved rider experiences.

As such, technical effects of the disclosed resistance control systeminclude enabling selective adjustment of a tension or weight resistanceof a ride vehicle. The ride vehicle therefore accommodates a wide weightrange of riders to experience a stationary attraction via VR devices.Generally, a rider provides input to a VR system of the stationaryattraction by leaning or shifting his or her weight relative to the ridevehicle. The ride vehicle is tensioned to appropriately resist themovement to simulate a virtual experience that is delivered through theVR device. In some embodiments, a spring plate of the ride vehicle issupported by a pivot joint that enables the rider to manipulate thespring plate with his or her bodyweight. The ride vehicle includes atleast one spring coupled to a surface of the spring plate to selectivelycompress against an actuator plate disposed underneath the spring plate.The actuator plate is vertically positioned relative to the spring platevia at least one actuator, which may move the actuator plate up or downto respectively increase or decrease resistance of the resistancecontrol system to movements of the rider. Thus, during a normal ridecycle, the resistance control system may measure a weight of the riderand instruct the actuators to tension the springs to a predeterminedsetting that corresponds to the weight. In other embodiments, compoundor conical springs positioned in a column and coupled to the springplate may be passively compressed by the rider to a target height,thereby providing a target resistance to movements of the rider. In someembodiments, the springs may be secured at the target height via anysuitable locking devices. In any case, as a semi-passive system, theresistance control system provides an improved experience for guests ofa wider range of weights than entirely passive systems, while providingreduced complexity than completely active systems.

While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the disclosure. It should be appreciated thatany of the features illustrated or described with respect to the figuresdiscussed above may be combined in any suitable manner.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and appliedto material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature thatdemonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are notabstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claimsappended to the end of this specification contain one or more elementsdesignated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for[perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements areto be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claimscontaining elements designated in any other manner, it is intended thatsuch elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

The invention claimed is:
 1. A resistance control system of an amusementattraction, the resistance control system comprising: a spring plate,wherein the spring plate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider;a plurality of spring columns engaged with the spring plate, whereineach spring column of the plurality of spring columns is passivelyheight-adjustable based on a weight of the rider; a plurality of lockingdevices, wherein each locking device of the plurality of locking devicesis configured to selectively secure a corresponding spring column of theplurality of spring columns at a respective adjusted height during aride cycle of the amusement attraction and a controller configured toinstruct the plurality of locking devices to secure and/or release theplurality of spring columns.
 2. The resistance control system of claim1, wherein each spring column of the plurality of spring columnscomprises a compound mechanical spring comprising at least two springregions coupled in series, wherein each spring region of the at leasttwo spring regions comprises a respective spring constant that enablescompression of the respective spring region in response to the weight ofthe rider being within a respective target weight range.
 3. Theresistance control system of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to instruct the plurality of locking devices to release theplurality of spring columns in response to determining a completion ofthe ride cycle of the amusement attraction.
 4. The resistance controlsystem of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to instruct theplurality of locking devices to release the plurality of spring columnsin response to determining a completion of the ride cycle of theamusement attraction.
 5. The resistance control system of claim 1,wherein the plurality of spring columns comprises a cylindrical coil, aconical coil, a gas spring, a magnetic repulsion assembly, or anycombination thereof.
 6. The resistance control system of claim 1,comprising: a position sensor coupled to the spring plate; a virtualreality (VR) device; and a VR controller communicatively coupled to theposition sensor and configured to operate the VR device, wherein theposition sensor is configured to transmit information indicative of aposition of the spring plate to the VR controller, and the VR controlleris configured to operate the VR device based on the information.
 7. Theresistance control system of claim 6, wherein the VR controller isconfigured to generate a set of virtual images to be presented by the VRdevice based on the information.
 8. A ride system, comprising: a ridevehicle comprising a spring plate and a plurality of spring columnsengaged with the spring plate, wherein the spring plate comprises a seatconfigured to receive a rider, and each spring column of the pluralityof spring columns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight ofthe rider; a virtual reality (VR) device; and a controllercommunicatively coupled to the VR device, wherein the controller isconfigured to operate the VR device based on movement of the springplate and the plurality of spring columns.
 9. The ride system of claim8, comprising a plurality of locking devices, wherein each lockingdevice of the plurality of locking devices is configured to selectivelysecure a corresponding spring column of the plurality of spring columnsat an adjusted height.
 10. The ride system of claim 9, wherein thecontroller is configured to instruct the plurality of locking devices tosecure and/or release the plurality of spring columns based on a ridecycle of the ride system.
 11. The ride system of claim 8, wherein aspring column of the plurality of spring columns comprises a compoundmechanical spring column comprising a plurality of spring regionscoupled in series, and each spring region of the plurality of springregions comprises a respective spring constant.
 12. The ride system ofclaim 11, wherein the compound mechanical spring column comprises afirst spring region coupled to the spring plate and a second springregion extending from the first spring region, the first spring regioncomprises a first spring constant, and the second spring regioncomprises a second spring constant.
 13. The ride system of claim 12,wherein the second spring constant is greater than the first springconstant.
 14. The ride system of claim 12, wherein the second springregion is coupled to a base plate, the base plate comprises an opening,the ride system comprises a linkage extending from the spring platewithin the spring column, the linkage comprises a ribbed end extendingthrough the opening of the base plate, and the ride system comprises aratcheting device configured to receive the ribbed end of the linkage.15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructionsexecutable by at least one processor in a computing device, wherein theinstructions are configured to cause the at least one processor toperform operations comprising: determining a position of a spring plateof an amusement attraction, wherein the spring plate comprises a seatconfigured to receive a rider, the spring plate is engaged with aplurality of spring columns, each spring column of the plurality ofspring columns is passively height-adjustable based on a weight of therider, and the spring plate is movable within the amusement attractionvia the plurality of spring columns; and operating a virtual reality(VR) device of the amusement attraction based on the position of thespring plate.
 16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim15, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the at least oneprocessor to operate the VR device to generate a set of virtual imagesbased on the position of the spring plate.
 17. The non-transitory,computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions areconfigured to cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: instructing a plurality of locking devices to secure theplurality of spring columns at an adjusted height in response todetermining an initiation of a ride cycle of the amusement attraction;and instructing the plurality of locking devices to release theplurality of spring columns from the adjusted height in response todetermining a completion of the ride cycle of the amusement attraction.18. A resistance control system of an amusement attraction, theresistance control system comprising: a spring plate, wherein the springplate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider; a plurality ofspring columns engaged with the spring plate, wherein each spring columnof the plurality of spring columns is passively height-adjustable basedon a weight of the rider, and each spring column of the plurality ofspring columns comprises a helical spring and a cable extending withinthe helical spring; and a plurality of locking devices, wherein eachlocking device of the plurality of locking devices is configured toselectively secure a corresponding spring column of the plurality ofspring columns at a respective adjusted height during a ride cycle ofthe amusement attraction, and a respective locking device of theplurality of locking devices is configured to capture the cable of arespective spring column of the plurality of spring columns to retainthe helical spring of the respective spring column at the respectiveadjusted height.
 19. A resistance control system of an amusementattraction, the resistance control system comprising: a spring plate,wherein the spring plate comprises a seat configured to receive a rider;a plurality of spring columns engaged with the spring plate, whereineach spring column of the plurality of spring columns is passivelyheight-adjustable based on a weight of the rider; and a plurality oflocking devices, wherein each locking device of the plurality of lockingdevices is configured to selectively secure a corresponding springcolumn of the plurality of spring columns at a respective adjustedheight during a ride cycle of the amusement attraction, and theplurality of locking devices are ratcheting devices that are eachconfigured to secure a respective ribbed end of a rigid or flexibleelongate shaft of each spring column of the plurality of spring columns.